BARE-FACED SWINDLES

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3186, 9 August 1930, Page 5

BARE-FACED SWINDLES

" BEATING " THE POWER BOARD. SOME ABUSES OF FLAT-RATE CHARGES. The Thames Valley Electric Power Board recently installed meters in its district. Previously it had charged its country consumers on the flatrate system, but it was found that the wasteful consumer was penalising the economical one. Just how waste occurred was described in a report submitted to the board by its engineer, Mr N. G. McLeod. The excessive use of electricity, said the engineer, occurred chiefly on the domestic side. The charge for a 600watt utility point was £3 per annum, and for a 1200-watt point £6 per annum. For this a consumer was allowed to use a kettle, iron, toaster, vacuum cleaner, grill, etc., up to 600 or 1200 watts capacity respectively. All this apparatus was looked upon as likely to be used for a comparatively short time each day, if operated with ordinary care. If a radiator was used, an additional 30s per annum was asked. " Some consumers actually never turned off their 1200-watt grills at all except in the heat of summer. In the colder weather they were used as radiators, being on continuously, and they did not even pay the additional 30s per annum required for radiator supply. Many of them obtained all their cooking from the grill; others used their electrft ranges for a similar purpose, as well as using them for radiators, leaving the oven door open to obtain the advantage of the oven element. Many there were who paid £3 per annum for a 600-watt point who stowed away their 1200-watt grill or 2k.w. radiator when the partyline telephone rang to say that the board's inspector was in the district. LIGHTS LEFT ON FOR SIX WEEKS ." With lighting similar abuses occurred. Some used to leave their lights on all night; others used to switch on every light in the house and leave them on till they went to bed. Some purposely left their lights on when they went out for the evening in order that undesirablees might be kept away. In at least one case the whole family were absent on six weeks' holiday, and the lights were deliberately left on all the time for the same reason.

" Many cases were discovered where irons, grills, etc., were operated from the lighting sockets, ordinary bayonet plug adaptors being used. In this way they obtained for a few shillings or for nothing, a service for which the standard charge was £3 or £6. " There were abuses in the use of milking plant supplies also. Some very barefaced and deliberate swindles were attempted. The charges for supply to milking motors were on a butterfat basis; —£ls for the first 5001 b. of butter-fat per annum on a 2 h.p. motor, plus one-third of a penny for each pound of butter-fat in excess of 50001 b. per annum. Practically every shed is equipped with an electric water heater and these are usually on a change-over switch with the motor. Consumers were allowed to pump all the water they required for their herds and for the shed for the inclusive butter-fat charge. "It was thought that, with the wate heater on the change-over switch, there was sufficient protection against abuse of the pumping concession, but cases were found of the change-over switch being bridged to allow the water heater to be on continuously, and for pumping, including irrigation, to be carried on all the time the milking plant was not in operation. In at least one case it is known that the milking motor was arranged to drive a drainage pump to dewater the land in flood time, and to irrigate the land, as well as water the stock in dry weather, all at the charge of milking. CURIOUS MENTALITY.

" It is curious the mentality of some people, and it is regrettable that the number is not as few as could be wished—people who are looked upon as souls of honour by their neighbours and friends, and who would, without hesitation, send to prison a tramp who stole a loaf of bread from their backdoors, or a shilling from their purses, but who think nothing themselves of robbing a public authority of pounds if they can do it without getting caught. The same thing has been remarked frequently before, but it will do no harm to repeat it. " It must not be thought," added the engineer, " that the mind of the average consumer in the board's area is indicated by the instances of abuse above mentioned. It is pleasing to record that the number who deliberately attempted to defraud the board was only a small percentage. The other cases of abuse were due either to ignorance or to a belief that they were obtaining no more than that to which they were entitled."